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PEACEMAKING
(MATTHEW 5:9)
…When I grew
into manhood, there were many times that I met those who knew my father who
would say to me, “you are so __like__ your father.” Such a
statement would swell me up with joy, to be like my dad.
…Our
Beatitude for today deals with peace. The theme of peace permeates the __Bible__.
Our Bible begins with peace in the Garden of Eden and it __ends__ with
peace in eternity. God is called, “the God of peace.” (Romans 15:33)
Yet, a quick look at our world reminds us that conflict and __war__ seem
to be the order of the day…men are at war with __God__.
…The 7th
Beatitude calls God’s people to be __peacemakers__. He has called
us to a special mission to help restore the peace __lost__ at the Fall.
(Gen 3)
THREE
CONSIDERATIONS HELPING YOU TO ENGAGE IN THE GREAT WORK OF MAKING PEACE.
I.
To Promote
Peace, You Must Understand What Jesus Meant By It.
A.
This peace must be clarified:
1.
It is not the absence of
__conflict__,
rather it is the presence of righteousness. Only righteousness can produce
the relationship that brings two parties together. Nor is it
__peace__
at any price. No!
2.
It is not a truce, for a truce is a
cease-fire. Time for
__reloading__.
3.
Peace means the relationship is
__restored__
and there is no more hostility. Once and enemy, and now a friend.
B.
__Sin__
is the great hindrance to peace. The Bible tells us that the problem is
within the heart of man. (Mark 7:21-23) While men and women
act upon their natural sinful hearts, there will be no peace. None.
Impossible. The true peacemaker is
__not__
an appeaser. The mere avoidance of war does not make peace. It does
not solve the problem. It is deeper…
C.
The basis for peace is the
__finished__
work of Christ.
1.
Ephesians 2:12-15…”for He Himself is our peace…”
2.
Colossians 1:19-20...He has made peace…”through the blood of the cross.”
II. As You Do
The Work of Peacemaking You Will Resemble Our God, The Great Peacemaker.
“called sons of God”
A.
The Lord is the great
peacemaker:
1.
He initiated
__peace__
by sending His Son. (John 3:16)
2.
God is reconciling the world…make peace. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
B.
To bear a
__likeness__
to the Lord, you must:
1.
Must first be saved…be one who has been brought to peace with God.
…peace with
God and peace of God.
2.
Must be one who leads others to make peace with
__God__.
Those who are in the best of circumstances of life, but without God can never
find peace. But those in the worst of circumstances with God need never
__lack__
peace!!!
3.
Must be one who even helps
__others__
make peace with other people. (Eph 4:3, Romans 12:18, 14:19) “as
much as possible, live at peace with all men…”
…In all of
this you will reflect God’s likeness among those whom you live.
III.
Peacemaking Can Be
Practically Done By All Who Belong To The Lord.
A.
To do so, you must learn not to
__speak__,
to control your tongue. “Be swift to hear slow to speak” (James)
Do not
__repeat__
things when you know they will harm others.
B.
Think!!! Learn to view all
situations in the light of the Gospel. Ask, “what are the implications of
this?” Think.
C.
Do something! Go out of
your way to look for the
__means__
and the methods of making peace.
Remember
Proverbs 25:21, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him.” You initiate the action.
D.
Endeavor to
__promote__
peace wherever you are, in your marriage, home, church, school, work..
1.
Do so by sharing the gospel, by life
and by voice.
2.
Do so by being selfless, __pure__, and by being approachable.
3.
By doing these things, God’s people are the real __Peace__ Corp.
LESSONS
FOR OUR LIVES:
1. If you are
saved, you too will be a peacemaker.
2. Remember, people
are without peace because they are without God.
3. Be warned, your
sin is the great hindrance of peace in your life.
4. As you tell
others about the gospel, you are engaging in the greatest peacemaking.
5. If you are here
and have never received Christ as your Savior, I encourage you to receive Christ
today.
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